On Wednesday, August 18, about 300 seniors, caregivers, parents, and people with disabilities took a drastic action to support the passage of a fair state budget. After gathering for a rally at the State Capitol, they marched into the intersection at 11th and L Streets and blocked traffic. Carting a huge effigy of the Governor and chanting the slogan “cuts Kill!” the protesters held the street closed for about two hours, while hundreds of supporters lined the sidewalks, chanting in support. The demonstration featured BOLT( Budget Organizing Leadership Team) members, California Partnership members , disability rights advocates, seniors, parents, and many others. Police arrested about 22 people before the action could end.
“Yesterday, we were loud and direct and people responded well to us. We let our message be known that we are going to fight to the end, we are not giving up! “ said Laquinta Mentlow, Parent Voices member from Oakland. “It was amazing to see such diversity in the fight to have a fair budget. You never really know how people are being affected because we keep to our individual groups, this was an awesome experience and I will be back until California deals with all of us fairly,” said a member of LIFETIME.
The action demonstrated the power we have when organizations representing different communities join together. Everyone was united to preserve the state programs and jobs that keep Californians healthy, educated and cared for. Seniors need their prescriptions; children need education opportunities; people need health care; educators and caregivers need their jobs; parents need child care… we are all in this together!
CAP members have been active in the HHS Network-organized advocacy days and action days in the Capitol each Wednesday and yesterday’s street blocking was a natural development of the frustration and desperation people are experiencing. As we said yesterday – “We’ll be back!” But we need a fair budget, like the ones the Democratic leaders have proposed, and we need it soon!
